Morning Oregonian., June 18, 1900, Page 4, Image 4

THE MOTTOING OBEGOKCAN. MO?DAY, JUNE 18, 1900.
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jPOttTLAD, MOSDAY, JUJTE 58, 1900
Not much Interest -will be taken In
ae Republican National Convention.
to be held this week at Philadelphia,
lor mucn in the Democratic National
('Convention, to be held at Kansas City
three weeks hence. In each party there
ire multitudes who will receive the
nominations with Indifference for
there are millions of Republicans who
qo not want to support McKinley, and
amnions of Democrats who do not want
to support Bryan. But it is "set up"
-:or these two; and except among: those
Who are seeking the rewards of party
auccess, and those who always follow
nth shouts the banner that bears the
party name, there will be little show
lot enthusiasm on either side. But It
looks as if McKinley would be re-elect
ed, because the business and lndus-
rtrial interests of the country cannot
mora the risks which it Is felt that
lithe success of Bryan would carry with
fit. Besides, we believe the country Is
tor expansion. Certalnlv th Pneino
fitates are. The Oregonlan hopes and
jeueves that the decisive fore In thr
election now at hand will be exprtPd
iby those who, like itself, want nothing
wit oi pontics out tne success or safety
of principles which thev deem most
Important. On this basis The Orego-
uan awaits the contest and the issue.
There Is Increasing nrpRcnro fn?-
Roosevelt for the VIce-Presidenev in
jeplte of his repeated and positive dec
linations, .possibly the pressure may
become so great as to force his accept
ance: but Whv Khnnlri ho linr-tr Titmoalf
In this office, to help McKinley out?
...wv. uuiu uc jjuiiu iu ins numina
i tion for the Presidency: but he Is want
ed for the Vice-Presidency only as a
man to hold the stirriin for "MV-.Trinlnv
I "to remount. Any wooden man will do.
E 3x nominated for the Presidency Roose
Velt would be elected by an Immense
majority. Nominated for the Vlce
! Presidency he would cut no figure at
pail. Roosevelt's Instincts are clear. He
doesn't want to be a mere adumbration
of McKinley. the tool of the McKInlev
! .machine, to be burled in obscurity and
cast aside, forgotten, at the end of the
term. Any cheap figurehead will do
for that. Let the machine find its own
i-tnan.
The newspaper platform-makers are
"Variously outlining the work of the
i convention. One Derson has enno in
I Philadelphia, carrying In his pocket
ine araii. or a piatrorm said to have
xne approval of President McKinley.
i we may suppose that any declaration
hot principles made, or likely to
be made, by a National conven-
xion win be entirely acceptable to
"the President; and under the circum
stances he can have no fear that it will
I'Snake any expression, or take any po-
Bition, not pretty much in accord with
the record and policies of the Adminis
tration. But it is proper enough, per
rbaps, that the men who are to pub-
, Jiflh a Renublican nlatform Irnnw whnt
Nforms of expression suit McKinley,
fXnougn it does not follow that they are
Tound to accept his recommendations.
The work of making a platform, af
"ter all, is this year perfunctory. There
j'ls no division within the party over
'any vital question; at least, no con-
I flict that is likely to lead to any open
.Tuotion. '4tte .porto Rican tariff, for
I example, might be troublesome, but
it there are signs that it will be by gen-
Ireral consent discreetly walked around.
The gold standard will be advocated.
(and the financial legislation of the last
i -Congress distinctly commended. Prob-
'.bly the most interesting, because In
jits exact form the most uncertain,
'pianlt will be that dealing with ex
pansion, and all questions growing out
the Philippine Insurrection. It will
declared to be the purpose of the
TJhlted States to give the natives the
largest measure of self-government.
consistent with, their ability to main
tain It, but under American sover
eignty.
A skeleton of the platform will look
, Something like this:
The assertion of American sovereignty la our
Island possessions. Tho Philippine- insurrec
tion, practically at an cad. with only guerrilla
warfare remaining. Self-government for the
natives when they are fit for It.
"People of Porto Rico congratulated on terri
torial government.
American occupation of Cuba soon to end,
and the Nation's promise redeemed.
The Nation and Hawaii congratulated upon
peaceable annexation of the. islands.
Monroe doctrine declared to be In full effect.
Nicaragua Canal should be built and con
trolled by fnlted States Government.
A vigorous and dignified foreign policy.
Trusts condemned and proper restrictive
legislation favored.
Protective policy reaffirmed, and reciprocity
amm ended.
deduction of war tax.
enslons for Spanish "War veterans, and
ronerous treatment for Civil War veterans.
McKinley administration indorsed.
There is but a short life left to the
Boer "War, despite the boast that they
will be able to wage a long and obstl-
. sate guerrilla warfare in the mountains
jf the Lydenburg district. Lord Rob
erts has his whole army almost con
centrated. General Hunter, with a
I iorce of 20,000 men, will Join Lord Rob
erts' forces at Johannesburg by Tues
day next Methuen's force, about 8000
I strong, is already guarding the line of
communications between the Vaal
iver and Kroonstad; General Buller,
ith 20,000 men at least, is at Stander-
tcn, with Lord Roberts' forces at Hel-
lelberg, which means that the whole
railway line from Pretoria to Lady
smlth Is in possession of the British.
The evacuation of Van Reenan's Pass
leaves the railway from Ladysmlth to
Bethlehem, In the Orange Free State,
within the grasp of the advancing
forces of General Bundle, and Presi
dent Steyn and his ragged remnant of
Free State Boers will need to be very
quick in their movements or they will
be caught between General Rundle's
troops and those of General Buller at
Standerton. Baden-Powell is at Rus
tenberg, east of Pretoria. The whole
railway system of the Orange Free
State and the Transvaal Is substan
tially in the hands of the British troops,
save the Delagoa Bay line, from Mld
dleburg to Komatlpoort The moment
Lord Roberts moves forward in full
strength he will be sure quickly to
wrest this line from the enemy. Wheri
that is done, the Boers will not be
able to wage guerrilla warfare very
long in the mountains, for It would not
take long to exhaust their stores of
food, ammunition, etc, when all com
munication with the sea is cut off.
NOT GOOD POLITICS.
Because there has beennolnterposltlon
by the United States In behalf of the
Boers and against the British, in the
South African War, appeal is to be
made, we are told, to the people of
Dutch kin in the United States to vote
for a chancre of nartles In the admin
istration of our Government. Eastern
Democratic newspapers are having
much to say on this subject. It Is to
be made a feature of the partisan lit
erature of the year, and It will be ad
dressed also to voters of German and
Irish descent, who may be supposed to
be actuated by special sympathy with
the Boers, or by hatred of the English.
But we think the good sense of the
people of the United States will disap
prove the Introduction of such meth
ods in our politics; for they are not
sincere. The United States cannot in
terfere in South Africa without going
to war with Great Britain. The situa
tion is such that no expression of "sym
pathy," unless it be backed by soldiers
and warships, would do any good. "We
should get a rebuff that would humili
ate us. and we should have to take it,
or declare war. There is nothing rea
sonable in the demand for action by
our Government that would put us in
such position. Besides, the demand is
not an honest one. Its purpose would
not be to help the Boers, for it could
not help them, but to get votes for a
political party here.
We should not divide here and con
fuse the issues of our own politics upon
the affairs of the other hemisphere. If
we did, the effect would be neglect
and misdirection of our own policies
and affairs. When we begin to vpte
upon European and African affairs,
which we cannot control or direct, do
what we may, we shall lose rational
direction of our own. Our people of
Dutch descent and their kin will hardly
make this mistake.
Besides, there are many persons of
English and Scotch origin in these
United States, who. If the question be
raised in this way, will be likely to act
upon it from their own point of view.
These persons heretofore have mostly
acted with the Democratic party,
through sympathy with free trade. So
that party would stand a chance of los
ing at least as much In this quarter as
it could gain in the other. But this
sort of business would better be kept
out or our politics. It would be ex
treme folly to neglect our own affairs
for such Quixotic undertakings. Poli
ticians no doubt will try the expedient,
but the good sense of the people may
be trusted.
THE OIUGIXAI. EXPANSIONIST.
The Indian "War Veterans may justly
congratulate themselves upon having
been the first and most effective "ex
pansionists" of the Pacific Coast. Un
der the lead of that able statesman and
gallant soldier, Governor Isaac L
Stevens, thpv nrnmntK- nomio1 r.m.
and "Washington from the occupation
o savages and made it thenceforth a
safe and comfortable home for white
civilization. Fortunately for the white
settlers of Oregon, in 1S55-E6 Governor
Stevens happened to be the right man
in the right place. Had he been a
weak or timid man the safety of the
settlers would have been sacrificed to
the stupidity, vanity and weakness of
General John E. "Wool, whose record on
the Pacific Coast proved him to be an
utterly incompetent soldier, a fact so
well known that he was never given
any important command after the out
break of the Civil "War. A more com
plete military humbug never rose to
be Major-General in the United States
Army than General John E. "Wool. He
was of the same breed as General John
C. Fremont, a fussy, fractious, vain,
pompous soldier, ambitious for distinc
tion without ability to win it, and, like
all such men, bitterly jealous of all able
regular Army officers who knew his
weakness and worthlessness, as did
Scott, Taylor and Governor Stevens.
The Indian wars of Oregon need no
justification beyond the fact that it
was found necessary here, as it was in
New England, the Middle "West and the
South, for the sword of civilization to
be a very woodman's ax opening the
jungle of barbarism to the light and
heat of its noonday sun, making way
for the settler with his hoe and his har
vest. The validity of title to the land
in India or Massachusetts or Oregon
is the right of man to slaughter or sub
ject wild beasts or wild men to his
service. That is the way civillSitlon
has got forward. It bids the human
wild beast to surrender, fly or die. The
Puritan ancestors of United States Sen
ator Hoar were natural -born expan
sionists who declined to wait the pleas
ure of the woods to recede, of wild
beasts and untamable hunters to retire.
"William Penn made treaties with the
Indians and had small trouble with
them because he was dealing with the
Delawares, who had been so soundly
thrashed and decimated by the warlike
Iroquois that for self-preservation they
were glad to purchase the protection of
the white colonists. But the average
Indian has not been found to be a
Quaker in theory or practice, and, in
spite of the policy of Penn, has been
converted with a club sometimes so
violently that he lived hardly long
enough to really die in the faith.
"Why should civilization lose any good
opportunity of wiping out barbarism
with the besom of fire and sword. If
necessary? Here is China, under whose
legal code men and women may be
sliced to death, or a state criminal's
whole family may be legally murdered
because of his crimes. Suppose a bar
barian of great natural military genius
should suddenly appear, like Timour,
and, raising in China the standard of
death to the foreigner and his religion,
should organize the millions of Mon
golians and set them In motion on such
a march as was executed by Genghis
Khan Into the 'heart of Russia, or upon
the frontiers of India? Given the lead
er of exceptional genius, and such a
terrible march is possible. Better break
up Chlna,and govern its various prov
inces by a" foreign protectorate, even as
Egypt today has been reduced to order
and a state of good government. China
must either reform Itself and cease to
be obstructive, or submit to forcible
reformation and reconstruction at the
hands of Europe. Turkey may as well
prepare herself for the same fate. It
may not come for another century, but
it is far more likely to be realized with
in flfty years.
OUIt DUTY AS BRYAN SEES IT.
Here is Mr. Bryan's Philippine pc-ltay.
outlined by him in his North American
Review article:
Hostilities can be terminated at any moment
by a declaration of this Nation's purpose; first,
to establish a stable government; second, to
glxe the Filipinos their Independence; third, to
give them protection from outside interference
while they work out their destiny. Such a
declaration would be In harmony with Ameri
can principles, American traditions and Ameri
can interests. .
The first we are trying to do. The j
second they would not know what to do
with. The third would take forever.
"We should thus assume all respon
sibility for the misconduct of an Irre
sponsible government, and deny our
selves a voice in its direction. We are
asked to turn the Filipinos loose among
the nations of the world, and tell them
to go ahead, and run things to suit
themselves. "We'll stand the conse
quencesw No proposal could be more
absurd. None would more certainly In
volve us In interminable difficulties. If
it Is said that we, would merely stand
In the same relation to the Philippine
government that we do to Central and
South America, the answer Is that it
is sheer insanity to extend the so-called
Monroe Doctrine to all the world. We
have always been In some .doubt, any
way, about what the Monroe Doctrine
means; but we cannot be in doubt as
to some things it does not mean.
Pacifying the Filipinos by promises Is
not the true method. We have found
that out. The fulminatlon of procla
mations and circulation of pledges and
pleasant words has done very little to
subdue them and to reconcile them to
the establishment of stable govern
ment. Pacification by gun and sword
has been a necessary basis for the
maintenance of order. A sovereign na
tion can uphold Its sovereignty only by
the effective assertion of force. That
is what sovereignty Implies and is.
It will be observed that Mr. Bryan
proposes that orderly government shall
be established before Independence Is
given. He means, of course, that we
Bhall do It, and not the Insurgents. If
wo are to make their submission a con
dition precedent to creation of a Fili
pino republic, we shall not progress
any faster than now. If we give them
Independence, and let them undertake
to restore order in their own way, an
archy will be Inevitable. We cannot
turn the Americans and European citi
zens of the islands over to them. We
cannot permit the natives who have
been friendly to us to pass under the
yoke of Agulnaldo. We cannot give
him and his fellows unrestrained and
unconditional authority over the lives
and properties of their own people, of
foreigners, or of the priesthood.
Mr. Bryan seems to have dimly re
alized the facts. He did not dare af
front the general sense of our duty to
ourselves and to civilization by propos
ing that we at once haul down the flag,
turn tail and get out for good and all.
He advises that we put the government
on Its feet. But how are we to be sure
that it will stay there? Are we to
hang around in the neighborhood while
"they work out their destiny"? That
would certainly be interferingln their
domestic affairs, and that is the thing,
as we understand it, that we are not
to do, if the Bryan scheme is followed.
It all comes to this: We have got to
keep the Philippines, or we have got
to leave them. If we keep them, as
we now Intend to do, we must go ahead
on this line If it takes many Summers.
If we now decide to leave them, we
might as well leave them now. Contin
ued effort to pacify the islands will be
a waste of men and treasure. The In
terval until we leave would be a mere
waiting time for the rebels, who would
then do exactly as they want to do at
this time take control of affairs In
their own hands and run them In their
own way. Possibly we would secure
guarantees that they will protect cer
tain interests, and leave undisturbed
certain people. But these promises
would be worth just as much now as at
any time in the fnture, and probably
would be worth nothing at any time.
American principles, American tradi
tions and American Interests, about
which Mr. Bryan talks so grandly, re
quire that we work out the American
destiny, which is a greater Nation, a
greater commerce and a greater placo
in the world's affairs.
A GOSPEL. PRODIGT.
A somewhat unusual presentment of
so-called evangelical labor Is being
made from day to day and evening to
evening in a tent spread for the ac
commodation of the public in this city,
the seating capacity of which is from
BOO to S00, this being frequently taxed
to the utmost. The attraction Is a boy
a "gospel prodigy" whose father and
brother act as managers of the per
formance. In presenting the lad to the
audience as a teacher In spiritual
things and an expounder of the Scrip
tures the father makes a strong point
of the fact that his son has no edu
cation, emphasizing it by the statement
that it Is his deliberate purpose to keep
him In Ignorance. The Inference is
that he will thereby be better prepared
to expound the truths of the gospel
and Instruct man in his duty to his
Creator, to himself and to the world.
The assumption on the man's part is
impertinent on the lad's it is pitlfuL
Tet people throng the teat to hear the
questions of life, death and immortal
Its expounded, the wrath of God de
scanted upon, his personality described,
his purposes In the creation of man
explained and his mercy guaranteed
upon certain conditions by vaunted
ignorance.
This little "Jack Cook," in speaking
of whom the credulous drop their
voices and cite the story of Christ con
founding the wise men when but twelve
years old, is in truth a bright-appearing
lad, with a ready flow of language
and an assurance which has long since
banished all traces of the diffidence
which in all stations of life is one of
the chief charms of childhood. His de
meanor In this respect is not wonder
ful, as he has been paraded before the
world as a gospel prodigy since his
tenth year. Neither is there anything
wonderful in what he says, his dis
course being along lines worn by the
tongues of the ages, and consisting of
platitudes that any one with quick abll-
ities in this dlrectioa could readily com.
mlt to memory. Such wonder as at
taches to his performance consists in
his exceeding volubility. It can truly
be said of him that he is a child of
"words, word3, words." His aptitude
In this way is variously explained, ac
cording to the- whim of the Interpreter.
To the spiritualist he iB a medium of
extraordinary power held In leash by
ecclesiasticlsm; to the believer in the
miracles recorded of Christ he Is moved
by power direct from God; to the evan
gelist he Is an instrument of salvation
on the duly prescribed plan; to the
curious a sqrt of talking machine a lit
tle less wonderful than the phono
graph and not quite so incomprehen
sible. He will have his day In Portland
little "Jack Cook" leave certificates of
"conversion" more or less numerous,
with coupons denoting denominational
preferences duly attached, and go his
way. Thoughtful, lntelllgent.people do
not "get religion" in a day, or accord
ing to the old programme, "In the
twinkling of an eye," while the thought
less and emotional soon wear out the
quality, purchased with tears and sighs
and groaning supplications. There is
yet in this community, and, indeed. In
every community, a considerable num
ber of people who view the possible
penalties of an after life with a nerv
ous dread which, craftily preyed upon,
becomes abject terror. Temporary re
lief Is brought to such minds by the
fervid assurance of sins forgiven which
are received at the altar to which they,
having been duly wrought upon, are
haled by evangelists of this type. Cer
tainly no one grudges these timid souls
the comfort they get from the belief
that they have been made special ob
jects of Divine mercy.
The row in the University of Idaho
had its origin Jn politics. It was a
flourishing institution until the Fusion
ists got control of the state govern
ment. The president hap'pened to be a
Republican, and they did not rest until
they got him out, and the faculty was
packed with professors whose teachings
were more nearly in accord with their
own peculiar economic theories. The
university has stumbled along for sev
eral years, with diminished Influence
and lowered educational tone. The in
structors have been at loggerheads, the
trustees meddlesome, the public dissat
isfied. The authorities seem at last to
have realized that a general overhaul
ing and a new start are imperative,
and the faculty s to be reorganized.
Perhaps the renovation would be more
complete if it extends to the trustees.
At any rate, no governing board of any
educational Institution can accomplish
anything If it is to be swayed by parti
san f rejudlce or consideration of any
kind. Idaho seems to have now learned
a lesson now thoroughly understood
elsewhere.
"Our illustrious forefathers," says
Mr. Brya-n, in effect, "were very wise
men. They knew exactly what they
were doing when they founded the
republic. George Washington was all
right, too. He advised us to mind our
own business and avoid entanglements
with any European power. That is the
reason I oppose the wicked Republican
policy of expansion. But It Is not ex
actly the reason why the great Dem
ocratic heart beats in sympathy for the
oppressed Boers, and wants to inter
vene and put a stop to the brutal tyr
anny of despotic England, which Is
crushing to earth a heroic people. Any
effective expression of sympathy for
the Boers might and probably would
Involve us In some little entanglement,
and it wouldn't exactly be minding our
own business. But Washington doubt
less meant to except the Boers and
would have been happy, anyway, to
give the American people a chance to
lick England again."
San Francisco has something of a
bubonic plague scare, based on what
may be the plague and what may not
be. Doctors disagree, as they usually
do. The matter was submitted for legal
decision, and the quarantine of China
town rendered ineffective. Judge Mor
row gave it as his personal opinion that
no plague exists. But the Judge did
not know, or pretend to know. Dr.
Kenyoun, the Federal Health Officer,
has evidently been overzealous in his
scheme to place the whole state under
quarantine by requiring a health cer
tificate to be shown at the border. But
doubtless the order will be liberally
construed so as not to be oppressive
upon persons who in the nature of
things could not have been exposed to
the contagion. It is aimed at the Chi
nese, and upon them supposedly will
its rigors be imposed.
In Washington there is left the shell
of the so-called Silver-Republican par
ty. The remaining faithful met Satur
day, named delegates to the Kansas
City mass convention, and adopted a
platform, which ignored expansion, be
cause some "delegates favored and some
opposed It. It Is Instructive to know
that these gentlemen favor something,
or do not favor something, besides sil
ver. It shows that they have a glim
mering Interest In things not moribund.
Towne is a Sliver Republican nom
inated for Vice-President by a Popu
list convention on a Socialistic plat
form. Naturally he thinks his creden
tials ought to be accepted by a Demo
cratic convention without question.
Irving Scott, the ihan who built the
Oregon, wants to be Vice-President.
Many other good men are after the
same place. It's a pity there Isn't
room for all.
The Boers and Tagals will be doubt
less willing to move up a little and give
the Boxers room on the sympathy plank
of the Kansas City platform.
New York, which can have the Vice
Presidency, has no candidate. Every
other state, which it is politically unim
portant to favor, has one!
Tacoma comes forward with a claim
to 51,000 inhabitants. The tombstone
count must have been unusually com
plete. Possibly the Van Wyck family may
be able to devise ways and means to
break in on the Kansas City hotel trust
Hott a Partisan Lair Worlcs.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Citizens of St Louis now know, to their
heavy cost the evils resulting from, the
law contrived to turn the Police Depart
ment of this city Into a Democratic ma
chine. In a time of continued public dis
order, tho regular police, though enlarged
months ago to over 1100 men, has utterly
failed to control the situation. Nor do
policemen in this city feel that the pro
tection of life and property is their mala
business. In order to get on the forco
they -must Join the Jefferson ClBfe, and
as soon as. they are in uniform an agent
of that club calls on them for a cash, as
sessment to be used for Democratic par
poses. Even when rioters hold the streets
they are ordered to leave their beats and
go to the polling places of the Democratic
primaries to assist in the election of a
certain set of delegates. They see that
the men promoted on tho force are those
most active in helping the Democratic
party. They get their places through a
board of four Democrats appointed by a
Democratic Governor, and can be dis
ciplined or dismissed by the same board
alone. No other authority touches them
in the slightest degree. They arc abso
lutely Independent of the municipal of
ficers and boards, and of the voters of
St. Louis.
THE IiAST OF DISFTIAISCHISEMEXT.
Tfce South Sbould Have Fewer Votes)
in Con cress.
New Tork Times;
During the late session of Congress Mr.
Crumpacker, of Indiana, a Republican of
excellent standing in his state and of
much Influence in the counsels of his
party, introduced a resolution of inquiry
as tb the operation of the election law3
of the various states with reference to
the 14th amendment to the Constitution
of the United States. On rJaturday, in an
Interview with the correspondent of tho
Evening Post, Mr. Crumpacker explained
that he had been requested by the ma
portty members of the committee not
to pres3 his resolution, as it was thought
by the party leaders to be inexpedient at
this 'time, but he declares that "It must
not be supposed that this is a dead Issue.
Tho feeling," ho adds, "Is very strong
that something ought to be done. If the
Southern States disfranchise their colored
population they should not at the ramo
time retain their voting strength in Con
gress and in the electoral college."
What would be the position of the more
enlightened Republicans in case the
Southern States adopted an Impartial sys
tem bearing alike on both races is shown
by the following remarks of Mr. Crum
packer: "To my mind this whole question of
negro suffrage has been approached from
the wrong end. If we had at the closa
of tho war given the Southern States a
representation like that of the North, on
the basis of the population partlclpat
jg in the affairs of the Government, it
would have been to their interest to moke
thi3 basts as broad as possible, and to that
end they would have admitted tho negro
to suffrage Just as fast as he was pre
pared for it. There would have been
more negroes actually voting today, in
my opmion, than there are now. The
terms of the 14th amendment would have
put a premium In every state upon a
broad basis of suffrage. But Instead of
that the 15th amendment attempted to
accomplish the thing all at one sweep,
and as a result, wa have got this work
all to do over again."
If the Republicans carry tho next Con
gress by a majority at all approaching
that they have in the present one, they
will undoubtedly take up the question
of the apportionment under the census
now behig compiled In the spirit indicat
ed In thto Interview. And the sober
opinion of the North will look on the
matter in amood very different from that
excited by the "bloody shirt" policy of
SO years since.
Unsatisfactory- Church Statistics.
Chicago Tribune.
The recently announced statistics of the
Congregational church are no more
satisfactory than those of other
denominations which have been made
public of late. The denomination
Is shown to be nearly stationary.
The total membership, 629.S74, Is a net
gain over the previous year of only 1G40.
The Sunday schools gained 2135 pupils.
For the first time since the statistics for
the wnoie country began to be collected
there was a net loss In churches, tho
number, 5601, bc!ng 16 less than last year
and the ministers numbering 23 les3. The
additions by confession, which represent
the actual conversions, wero only 24,314,
the fewest since 1SS5. The removals by
death were 8S02, bat this was less than
tho number of removals caused by drop
ping" out from the church, these lost being
12,133, or nearly as many aG joined by
confession. The weekly organs of the
Congregational Church, profess their in
ability to account for these unsatisfactory
statistics. Whatever the causes are, they
are probably the same as are operative
In other churches that show unsatisfac
tory growth or actual decline, and as to
these causes there Is a great diversity of
opinion, and none of them is convincing.
Rates dictate's Writing:.
Caroline "Wells In the New Tork Tribune.
Much has been said of the handwriting
of Rufus Choate, it being, perhaps, as
extraordinary, and certainly as Illegible,
any which the most diligent search can
procure. It was said that there were three
degrees of Mr. Choate's writing, namely,
that which only he and his secretary could
read, that which he alone could make out,
and that which neither he nor anybody
else could decipher.
Many amusing incidents are told regard
ing tMs peculiarity of Mr. Choate's. It
was said that upon a certain occasion
when he was engaged upon some import
ant case he sent written instructions to
his office which he desired to have carried
out at once, and which not a man In tho
place could interpret. A consultation was
held andi it was suggested that tho great
lawyer should be written to for an ex
planation, although this seemed a danger
ous experiment, since the chances were
that no one would be able to read the
explanation. At last it was happily de
cided that a telegraphic dispatch be sent
to him calling for an immediate reply,
and in this way the necessary informa
tion was obtained.
The Great Monopolist.
Salt Lako Tribune.
Mr. Bryan tells us that one of the
chief Issues this year will be that be
tween plutocracy and Democracy. On
which side is Mr." Bryan going to be?
Four years ago today he would have
been glad to have obtained a situation
in a law office or a newspaper office for
$300 a month. It is said that today he is
worth $000,000. The question naturally
occurs that if a man In four years, despite
the plutocrats, can pile up a fortune of
$300,000, is he not a dangerous man? When
a faker comes along and sells charme, or
tells fortunes, or practices any kind of
legerdemain, the understanding Is that he
Is doing it for his own particular benefit
So, if Mr. Bryan practices political hyp
notism on the public, considering his lifo
up to date, is it not fair to believe that
really hie chief purpose on earth has been
to Improve the fortunes and advance the
ambitions of Mr. Bryan himself, and has
he given the people a quid pro quo for
what they have paid him?
Will End Calamity Hoirlers.
Denver Times.
In 1S9G Mr. Bryan's watchword was
"open the mints" and Increase the volume
of currency by 'law. Major AfcKlnley's
solution of the business depression waj
"open the mills" and Increase the volume
of currency by Increasing the opportuni
ties for labor. The Populists at their con
vention at Sioux Falls demanded the open
ing of the public printing presses for the
printing of flat money.
The people voted In 1S95 to try Mr. Mc
Klnley's remedy. The result is that the
Nation is more prosperous than It has
ever been before In its history. If the
mills aro kept open under a Republican
Administration the calamity howlera will
soon be extinct.
A Strong- Man Needed.
New York Times.
The party in power Is peculiarly free
at this time to choose its best mao for
the second place on the ticket There
is no contest for the first place to be
adjusted. There Is no faction to be sat
isfied. There la no especial need of pay-
tag attention to locality. The Vlce-Prcs- I
Idency is a great office in Its possibilities,
not only aa to the succession, but as to
its actual influence in the hands of a
man of real judgment and force. With
Mr. McKinley sure to retire at the closo
of the next term, there is reason to think
that the Vice-President may become his
successor as the candidate of his party
for the Presidency. Every consideration
calls for the selection- of a strong man.
The choice practically lies with the lead
ers of the party In this state. It will bo
a pity If they throw It away.
"
MIGHT HAVE BEEX.
A '"Strain" on tfce Poet Laureate o
England.
St. James's Gazette.
Once again I must try;
Mine bnt to vrrllo or die.
Tours jiot to reason hy
No sense Is my sense; -
3Iafeklncs saved, and so
I must a-rhymlasr so. , ,,
Heaven Bend me lots of Po-
Etlcal license!
Then when I've made ray rhymes.
Fit for the, pantomimes.
They will adorn the Times
Splendid and solemn!
Til to the Standard fly.
Knock at tha door and cry,
"Please put them Into thy
Agony column."
Monolith, pith, frith, kith,
"All end like Ladysmlth.
But It's 111 rhyming with
Lucknow or Delhi,
Tet. -why put Delhi, when
We were besiegers then?
Where 13 my fountain pen?
"Would I were Shelley!
"Bayonet" sounds so queer;
Call It a "naked spear"
Thus I shall make It clear
That I cold steel meant.
"Nor was stern mettle shown
By male and strong alone."
There's an (I think you'll own)
Artful concealment
"Sound for them tho martial lay"
Bad line, but let It stay.
"Wrestle with rhymes all day
What rhymes with "wrestle"?
Cestle? I cannot spell
"Stormed at with shot and shell.
Fire, with resistless yell.
Mortar and pestle."
"Powell, of endless fame,"
Tour double-barreled name
(Strange. It begins tho eame)
f Has a Bad en-dlng;
Still 1 must shove it In
"O, our stout, stubborn kin,"
Baden, though worn and thin.
Stout at defending.
Forward through sound and sense!
Pounds are made up of pence;
Blow the remote expenso.
Give me your penny!
Drain deep the foaming quart.
Brewed of the good old sort.
At AUanrlbangel Court,
Abergavenny.
Jfciv York's Dilemma.
New Tork Herald.
Popular government In New York Iras
utterly broken down. Mayor Van Wyck'e
testimony on that point Is conclusive.
The cltys docks and streets and parks
and, public buildings are In the hanl3
of a series of commissions, each of which
Is a law unto Itself in disposing of priv
ileges and property, In the engagement
of personal clerks and confidential secre
taries and the raising of salaries of em
ployes. In view of our irresponsible government.
It Is not surprising that while the expenses
of the various boroughs before consolida
tion aggregated about $5S,000,000, the tax
levy this year ia JSO.000.000, to say nothing
of street and park openings paid for with
borrowed moneys, and leaving out of the
count the enormous sums derived from as
sessments, wharfage, fees, fines, interest
on public moneys and the like, besldo an
ever mounting banded debt
IVcitlier Rtglit, Nor Jnst.
Baltimore American.
The Republican National Convention,
as the supreme governing body of the
party, will perform a work of inestimable
value If, when It meets in Philadelphia
next week, it takes up and disposes of the
much-mooted question of Southern rep
resentation in Presidential nominating
conventione. This question, like Ban
quo's ghost, will not down, and the time
was never more favorable for Its flnel
settlement. The Interests of no one will
be jeopardized, the result of the election
will In no wise be affected, and the party
has an excellent opportunity to rid Itself
Of a veritable Incubus. There is neither
right nor justice in the present plan of
representation, and unless a change is
made the party will rue the day it de
clined to act.
The Sole Bryan Chance.
Boston Herald, Ind.
Tho Chicago Chronicle, the Democratlo
paper of the city in which It Is printed,
very sensibly tells the Democrats that.
If they are to carry the coming Presiden
tial election, they must do It by the aid of
the Eastern and Middle States of the
Union. It thinke several of the far West
ern States are lost to them, and that If
they are not to be lost their votes are
not of enough Importance to Justify tho
exertion that It would cost to carry them.
Our own view Is that It is absolutely Idle
for Bryan to cherish any hope of the next
Presidency unless he can carry states
like New Tork, New Jersey and Indiana;
and, with New York among those thrown
away. It Is wasted effort to attempt suc
cess by appeals In other quarters.
A Masonic Family Trust.
Tacoma Ledger.
The Chadwick family of Colfax 13 well
and largely represented in the Masonic
grand bodies. Steve Chadwick was elect
ed grand master of the grand lodge, while
Mrs. Chadwick was elected grand matron
Of the etate chapter of the Eastern Star.
Both are popular selections, and Mr. and
Mrs. Chadwick will preside In the East
with ability and dignity.
The "Woes of Jjents.
New York Sun.
Disappointments crowd on tho sympa
thetic soul of Hon. John Jacob Lentz, of
Ohio. AH his labors in behalf of the
Coeur d'Alene ruffians have been fruit
less. The Idaho Democrats stand by tholr
brave and honest Governor, the Hon.
Frank Steunenberg. Lentz will have to
concentrate his emotions on Agulnaldo.
A Steadily Increasing Territory.
New York Tribune.
There are rumors that William Jennings
Bryan has bought a new geography, in
which Oregon, In common with most of
the "United States, Is described as "the
enemy's country."
The People's Trust.
Pendleton Tribune.
Prosperity and Republicanism form a
trust that it will be impossible to over
throw. It is a natural combination.
The Meadow Larlc
Springfield Republican.
A feathered sprite
At dawning light
F16W to a flowering limb;
From a limpid pool
Of waters cool,
A bath at the reedy rim.
A hidden nest.
Near dewy cress, ,
Four eggs In the grassy glim;
A liquid note .
In air afloat,
Joys trilled In morning- hymn.
Hark, hark, to the lark.
High, high. In the sky,
'Tls tho sweetest note
In the air afloat.
Sweet, sweet as tho honey bee,
The bags of the bee, to me.
Te birds with song from heaven caught,
Te sing the glad refrain;
To brooks with. song by nature taught
To slag the minor strain.
NOTE AND COMMENT. . ,
It looks like rain.
No, ComUle, a sympathetic strikers cot
a love tap. t '..-
Croker Is coming back to ask?VantWyck
where he got It.
Having had three strikes. It is time for
the St. Louis street-car men to run.
The bear that walks like a man seema
disposed to gobble like a hog in China.
St Paul has two chiefs of police. She
ought to send one of them to St Loula
Three Bryan parties will be out pretty
soon. That, of course, will put his aide
out
Now has tha warliko Boxer man,
A. bloody rumpus made.
,, Which puts young Agulnaldo and
Old Krugcr in the sfeade.
Like John L. Sullivan .and other famous
fighters, Kruger thinks there is another
fight left in him.
" The American Minister to Ghina is not
a minister of tho gospel, which Is all
that stands between him and heaven.
Full merrily the voting man
This season doth rejoice.
Because he heareth not so much
Of Bryan's still, small voice.
The Mayor of Atlanta never had occa
sion to observe to the Mayor of Savannah
that It was a long time -between "drinks.
This year way down In (Kansas.
They're having great big crops,
A state of nature which is most
Discouraging to Pops.
Boston is making a crusade against the
billboards, and the papers are loudly
clamoring "Annihilate tho William n
cades!"
"Will the candidates for Vice-President
please stand up?" asked tho chairman of
the convention.
There was a general scramble.
"Now," continued the chairman," will
Mr. Roosevelt please arise and make it
unanimous?"
A now Angelican diocese is to be formed
in South London, and the noble Saint
Saviour's Collegiate Church of South
wark will be its cathedral. Its history goes
back more than 1000 years; In Its pre
cincts are entombed John Gower, Fletch
er, Philip Maselnger and Edmund Shakes
peare; there, too, John Harvard was bap
tized. The vast Roman Catholic Cathedral of
Westminster is nearing completion, ana
may be opened In September. It was be
gun five years ago this month; it Is 330
feet by 156 "feet, and has cost not less than
$125,000. The Duke of Norfolk ha3 given
$50,000. Cardinal Vaughan $25,000, Lord and
Lady Brampton $26,000, while contribu
tions of 1000 'have come In from many
of the nobility.
Colonel Bryan Thomas Mahon, D.S.O.,
who led the relief column Into Mafeklng,
Is an Irishman-, and son of the late Mr.
Henry Blake Mahon, of Belleville, Athen
ry, County Galway. He Is only 37 years
of age, and' has already had a distin
guished and stirring military career. He
won distinction under Lord Kitchener in
the Soudan, served in the Dongola expe
ditionary force in 1E93 ae staff officer, and
was present at the engagement at FIrket
and the operations In Hafflr. He com
manded the cavalry which, under Sir Reg
inald WIngate, tracked and destroyed the
Khalifa's force at Gedld.
The Pekin field force of the Government
only amounts to 25,000 on a peace estab
lishment though It has been larger since
the Japanese War. Forty years ago the
Chinese capital was taken- by two or three
French and English brigade. Neither the
Boxers nor tho Chinese populace possess
modern weapons of any sort Or order, as
is the case with like bodies in Western
Aela, from the Afrldis to the west across
Northern Africa. Remingtons are sown
In the most amazing fashion' all over the
west of Asia and North Africa. In North
China one never hears of them. Pikes,
swords, axes and rustic weapons are the
armament of the Boxers, aa of other vil
lage mobs.
One of the objections urged against tho
British sparrow, so-called, by the large
number of persons who do not like thl3
saucy, pugnacious, but confiding, bird. Is
that It does not destroy insects. That tb'.s
charge Is incorrect can be seen by any one
who will take the trouble to watch the
sparrows any day now, and notice tho
energy and activity they display In catch
ing files on the pavements. They seldom
miss a fly, and they catch a great many
of them. When a sparrow notices a fly
within range, it gives about three hop3
and If necessary a little flirt of its wings,
and the fly Is a "goner." The charge of
having a disagreeable screeching note can
not be disproved by the best friends of
the sparrow. When one of these birds
takes a notion to get within hearing and
sing. It is very tiresome and trying, and
makes one wish for a beanshooter or a
shotgur. lut the sparrow does prey upon
Insects when It suits him to do so. The
sparrow is entitled to some consideration
owing to his family being such an old one.
Their price is quoted in the New Testa
ment as two for a farthing, and although
styled British sparrows, they antedate in
history the British Empire.
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGHAPHERS
The "Voice of Experience. "Roberts, Pretoria:
They sometimes won't stay whipped. Otis."
Philadelphia North American.
Sidewalk Wit "They've got a sidewalk res
taurant in Now Tork." "Perhaps they are
trying to curb their appetites." "Not when
they are flagging." Cleveland Plain Dealer.
A Dramatic Hound-Robin. "Was that dra
matic venture a success?" "Tcs, indeed; tho
law arrested the actress, she sued tho mana
ger, he sued tho author, and the author sued
the actress." Cbicajo Record.
Keeping Tip the Good Work. First Imp
Who la that boisterous party who has Just ar
rived? Second Imp That i3 a gentleman
from Illinois, who Is trying to cqnvlnce Me
phlsto that Chicago beats Hades. Puck.
Killed His Man. Cowboy Guess yon never
killed a man. did ye? Tenderfoot Huh. I
holped kill half a dozen of them. "Herer
"No. At college." "Flghtln with 'emT "No.
Initiating them." New Tork Weekly.
Sometimes tho Case. Stranger What do you
understand here by the "straight ticket"?
Native Well, as the machine controls this
town, the- straight ticket Is the one that's mada
up of crooked candidates. Philadelphia Press.
Vindicated at Last "My dear." ho said,. "I
forgot to mall that latter this morning." "Oh.
you dear!" she cried. "That was Just what
I wanted. Now I can blame you when that
supercilious Sadie complains that I don't an
swer her notes." Philadelphia North Ameri
can. Not Quite Ready. "Are you ready for your
Summer outing?" asked her dearest friend.
"Not quite," repUed the swet young thing.
"Of course. I have my bathing suit, my bicycle
suit my golf suit my tennis suit, my yacht
ing suit, and my riding habit, but as we are
going to one of these qulet places, merely for
rest and relaxation, I will, of course, have to
have a few evening gowns, and possibly half a
dozen suitable for lawn parties, and all that
sort of thing." Thus she demonstrated that
she had been there before, and knew what
"quiet country life" meant in a Summer-re
te
sort advertisement. Chicago Evening Post,